USC Not Tailback U., but Trojans Can Run

USC quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown 380 passes, a number that no doubt will have UCLA defenders peering skyward Saturday.

But like bumpkin tourists in New York gazing at skyscrapers, their pockets will be picked unless they are aware of street traffic.

The Trojans have run the ball 387 times, making their offense a study in balance.

Palmer’s arm is the most dangerous weapon, to be sure. But the legs of Justin Fargas and Sultan McCullough cause damage as well.

Often, USC runs when the formation indicates a pass is coming.

“Their offense is unorthodox,” UCLA defensive coordinator Phil Snow said. “They run a lot of formations and do unusual things out of them. They bunch their wide receivers to one side in a passing formation, then they run out of it.”

Containing the USC running game, in fact, is considered by Bruin Coach Bob Toledo to be a key to the game. “We’ve got to get them out of the rhythm of their offense,” he said. “And a big part of that is stopping the run. Fargas is an excellent back, he’s really running well. And McCullough is a home run threat.”

The Trojan senior tailbacks possess markedly different styles. Fargas is a rugged runner with great leg strength. McCullough is one of the fastest players in the Pacific 10 Conference.

“When McCullough is in the game, we have to be more conscious of contain, of not letting him get outside,” UCLA linebacker Brandon Chillar said. “Fargas is a hard runner. He goes north and south, and gets up the field.”

Fargas has never run better in his injury-plagued career. He rushed for 125 yards against Arizona State last Saturday, 139 yards against Oregon on Oct. 26 and has scored a touchdown in four consecutive games.

And he might never be more motivated than against UCLA, a school he wanted to attend coming out of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High. Toledo indicated at the time that he was best suited as a defensive back, so Fargas went to Michigan.

After three seasons, three leg operations and one loss to UCLA, he came to USC and sat out last season under transfer rules. Toledo’s five-year-old comments won’t serve to motivate him.

“They are not in my mind,” Fargas said. “I don’t need anybody else’s words to motivate me. I’m just going to play my game.”

So will McCullough, and his game is speed. He is the leading Trojan rusher with 665 yards, six touchdowns and a 4.4 average. He best season was 2000, when he had seven 100-yard games and rushed for 1,163 yards.

Fullback Malaefou MacKenzie is another player the Bruins can’t ignore. “McKenzie runs, blocks and catches the ball,” Snow said. “Because he can do so many things, he gives them flexibility to run a lot of formations with him as fullback.

“USC can run the ball. They are physical and have a great scheme that has proven to be successful. Their balance is our biggest challenge.”

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Times staff writer Gary Klein contributed to this report.

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HOLDING THEIR GROUND

UCLA’s rushing defense gives up 122.2 yards per game, 22nd in the nation. A look at what the opponent’s top running back has done against the Bruins this season, along with that player’s average rushing yards per game. Games where the team’s top running back did not play are not included:

*--* Player, Team vs. UCLA Season Cecil Sapp, Colorado State 105 118.4 Seymore Shaw, Oklahoma State 54 56.4 Chris Brown, Colorado 188 158.5 Steve Jackson, Oregon State 104 136.6 Onterrio Smith, Oregon 152 119.8 Joe Igber, California 55 82.1 Kerry Carter, Stanford 84 54.4

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BACK TO BACK

A game-by-game look at the rushing yards for USC tailbacks Justin Fargas and Sultan McCullough:

*--* JUSTIN FARGAS SULTAN McCULLOUGH Att Yds Opponent (Result) Att Yds DNP Auburn (24-17 Win) 20 58 1 4 at Colorado (40-3 Win) 15 110 6 24 at Kansas State (27-20 Loss) 11 73 17 41 Oregon State (22-0 Win) 19 50 12 33 at Washington State (30-27 13 62 Loss, ot) 1 1 California (30-28 Win) 39 176 6 22 Washington (41-21 Win) 22 37 27 139 at Oregon (44-33 Win) 2 16 9 43 at Stanford (49-17 Win) 7 14 26 125 Arizona State (34-13 Win) 4 69

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